Linda Bailey

The whimsical title, a play on the rhyme, The Three Little Kittens, is the reader’s first clue that this will be a delightful book. A Little Girl has three mittens, Dotty, Other Dotty, and Stripes. At first, Stripes is always left behind. After all, Little Girl only has two hands. One day, however, Other Dotty is forgotten in the snow. “Suddenly, Dotty and Stripes were partners —because they had to be. And here’s the surprise. As they got to know each other, they began to like each other.” And so begins the realization that mittens (and many other things!) don’t have to be matching. In fact, it’s more fun when they don’t! The acrylic and watercolor pencil illustrations by Ukrainian native, Natalia Shaloshvili are delightful. The colors are bright, the smiles are whimsical, and everything has a blurry, furry appearance—suitable for mittens, dogs, curly hair, and snowy days. The characters include Little Girl, Dotty, Other Dotty, Stripes, and even a sock called White-One-with-the-Hole-in-the-Toe. A final double-spread illustration features the Little Girl with a parade of friends of various skin tones, and a child in a wheelchair, each dressed in outlandish fashion. This is an enjoyable reminder that differences are fun!… (lisätietoja)

This is an amusing book with a predictable storyline of inclusion. Both the princesses and dinosaurs are initially quite mean-spirited and reject the other group. The story gets increasingly silly as the groups get more and more dismissive of the other until reaching the standard conclusion that life is better when everyone embraces their differences and plays together. The princess group is depicted in all shapes and sizes, including one that may be a boy. The dinosaurs and other characters are equally diverse and well illustrated.… (lisätietoja)

This is a picture book about mittens, Dotty and Other Dotty, they are a pair and they get very snarky at Stripes, who is missing their match. Tables turn with Other Dotty is left, and now Dotty has to be worn with Stripes, they become friends along the way. Until Other Stripes is found. When the Stripes start to tell Dotty that she is on her own, the little girl chimes in that they could always be mis-matched and that is fine, and then everyone would get a chance, and pull out a bin of other lost matches. The mittens are all thrilled to be out playing again and teh socks and shoes tag along too.

This was a fun book about getting creative. I liked the sustainability aspect of it, mismatched mittens are still fine. The illustration was whimsical and 'puffy' which was good for the illustration of the mittens and gloves. I think kids will love it and want to mis-match all their things too.

Overall, adorable, fun story perfect for the winter season.… (lisätietoja)